YORK, Pennsylvania (CNN) - John McCain used one of his largest and most ambitious town halls to date to brandish a pair of surrogates, Joe Lieberman and Tom Ridge, who may help him shore up support among independents in this fall battleground.

The Tuesday stop began with some campaign stunt work that turned the typically-mellow format into a lively Pennsylvania event that resembled one of the noisy rallies that characterized the Democratic primary.

The audience on hand - estimated by the campaign as north of 3,000 people - far exceeded the size of a standard McCain event. And the audience, who had been warmed up by a pair of television screens broadcasting a biographical film about the candidate, rose to their feet when McCain, Lieberman and Ridge arrived.

The trio entered the York Expo Center in the Straight Talk Express, which motored into the indoor venue under a massive American flag that was hoisted up to reveal the campaign bus, all while the theme from “Rocky” blared.

Lieberman then marshaled the audience by seeming to question Obama’s patriotism and commitment to bipartisanship in Washington.

"In my opinion, the choice could not be more clear, between one candidate John McCain who's had experience, been tested in war and tried in peace. Another candidate who has not,” Lieberman said to applause. “Between one candidate, John McCain who's always put the country first, worked across party lines to get things done, and one candidate who has not.”

For his part, McCain plugged the moderate records Lieberman and Ridge, and praised their commitment to keeping the country safe.

Though he made a strong push to attract independents in his town hall performance, demanding that congress work together to solve the country’s energy crisis, the GOP nominee for the first time acknowledged he faces a deficit of support among younger voters.

Responding to a former Hillary Clinton supporter who asked what McCain will do for younger Americans, McCain said: “I'll give you straight talk. I need to do a better job with young voters in America.”

soundoff(298 Responses)

Joe please go away. Obama jacked you up and you cowered to him in his face. You are yellow Joe.

August 12, 2008 03:56 pm at 3:56 pm |

Pumas support Depends

Why is Lieberman always greasing up McCain?

August 12, 2008 03:57 pm at 3:57 pm |

Informed Voter

Mc Cain is a Puppet he is run by his Campaign .. he is told how to act & what to say .. by his Puppet-Masters ..

Puppet masters like (Davis, Lie-berman, graham etc)

If you notice everywhere Mc Cain goes (townhalls etc) he has his Puppet Masters by his side ... pulling his strings ........ Today was Lie-Berman

August 12, 2008 03:59 pm at 3:59 pm |

Sebastian

Joe –

We can always count on you to put Isreal first. We will remove you from Congress in the next election.

Sebastian
Glastonbury, CT

August 12, 2008 03:59 pm at 3:59 pm |

JD

Johnny Mac is our best choice for President! He has a long and distinguished service record, understands foreign affairs, wants to end earmark spending, promote free enterprise, fully develop existing energy resources, and develop alternative/new energy resources.

August 12, 2008 04:01 pm at 4:01 pm |

Amon

The other candidate was, apparently, Paris Hilton. Unless you count that fight she had with Nichole Ritchie a few years back as a "war," I guess.

August 12, 2008 04:01 pm at 4:01 pm |

California Gold

What an outrageous suggestion. Where does he get off making such insinuations. Lieberman is just pathetic suggesting another Senator doesn't always "put country first". Lieberman is Lame.

August 12, 2008 04:01 pm at 4:01 pm |

Kevin C

He was suggesting that Obama was more partisan, and doesn't have a long history of working across party lines, it's very clear. Mountain out of a mole hill CNN.

August 12, 2008 04:02 pm at 4:02 pm |

Tony

Joe Lieberman, the Republican in Democrat's clothing.

If Lieberman had any balls he would have declared himself a Republican long ago. McCain and Lieberman, two bitter, angry, OLD fools.

August 12, 2008 04:02 pm at 4:02 pm |

Phil From VA

Lieberman is a slime ball.

August 12, 2008 04:02 pm at 4:02 pm |

Obama supporter:White, 60 year old woman

Three tired same old voices of the past talking to a huge McCain event of 3 000 ( perhaps humourously?)admitting the candidate needs "to do a better job with young voters".

August 12, 2008 04:02 pm at 4:02 pm |

tell the truth

John McCain is the one who signed statements denouncing the United States, not Barack Obama.

He did so while a captive, true enough, and many others would probably do the same thing.

But it's a disgrace for him to call his service heroic when he denounced his country while in uniform.

This independent is voting for obama, Did mccains puppydog liberman have to whisper in his ear today??? go away mccain i live in pa and this is obamas state your not going to win it!!!!!!!!!

August 12, 2008 04:03 pm at 4:03 pm |

jen

I sure hope McCain picks Lieberman to be his VP.

Obama/Hagel vs Mr Magoo/Elmer Fudd

August 12, 2008 04:04 pm at 4:04 pm |

John

It is striking to me, and a reminder of the nativist prejudices that exist just below the surface in our country, that people will still resort to vague charges of "not being American enough" to be President. Politicos as different as Joe Lieberman and Mark Penn are now on record with such nonsense. It's where bigots go when they can't openly complain directly about someone's race, religion, or color.

August 12, 2008 04:04 pm at 4:04 pm |

Jim

Old baffoons, what a group of idiots (not the audience). I'm from CT and I can't believe we voted him back in, we honestly had no idea, it's just scary how much people don't know who they are voting for....

His approval rating by the way have been under 50% for the first time, so he'll be out of there soon enough.

August 12, 2008 04:04 pm at 4:04 pm |

PG

How much did they pay the people off the streets to attend? Hummm, I wonder.

August 12, 2008 04:04 pm at 4:04 pm |

Monty Delaware GOP!!!!

John McCain can't do a better job with young voters....... He doesn't speak their language.

Look at his backdrops and his surrogates. Old and out of touch....

August 12, 2008 04:04 pm at 4:04 pm |

Don

Lie bermann is all that the name breaks down to. Kick him out of the

democratic party now!!!!!!!!!!

August 12, 2008 04:04 pm at 4:04 pm |

JDM

Between the three, Ridge is the one who would give the REP something to cheer for.
Lieberman is a sellout. Rep need to watch him! He will flip rigth before your eyes.
Macain is Mcain. There isn't much you need to say about him
2000 Mcain vs 2008 Mcain.
Great staging, finally got some people to show up?????

August 12, 2008 04:04 pm at 4:04 pm |

Jim

If all Mccain is running on is war, why not simply nominate General potraus as president (sp?).

August 12, 2008 04:05 pm at 4:05 pm |

What if?

Looks like McCain and Lieberman wants be CELEBRITIES to me. Thank you media and CNN, we won't have to hear McCain whine this time, he got the chance to show he wants to be a celebrity to.

Obama 08

August 12, 2008 04:05 pm at 4:05 pm |

Indep

This guy is a Joke. Who cares what he says. I bet he will put Israel first before USA. Bcause of this guy McCain want to stay in Iraq for 100 yrs and Bomb bomb in Iran.

August 12, 2008 04:06 pm at 4:06 pm |

SteveCO

McCain. Lieberman. Ridge, fer cripe's.

And a yellow-striped weenie like Lieberman questioning someone's patriotism. Boy, is Joe gonna be lonely in Connecticut. Mr. "I Stood Up To Hollywood" (he didn't) can't stand up to a ham sandwich.

Talk about a Trio of Shame. McCoward, who votes every penny for war, not one cent for poor kids' health care. Joe Lieberman, soul-kissed like Judas by Dubya after a State of the Union.

Ridge. Tom Ridge. Hasn't accomplished a single positive thing in his entire political life.

Please, let's have the debates! Maybe Joe could be the V.P. nomineee and bring down two prez tickets, one for each major political party. You *know* that would be a permanent record of stupidity. But McCain's been acting pretty stupid.

August 12, 2008 04:06 pm at 4:06 pm |

Bob Indianapolis, IN

Nice talk from a dwarf who puts Israel over the United States on a regular basis...